tie

n.; pl. Ties [ AS. tēge, t&unr_;ge, tīge. √64. See Tie, v. t. ] 1. A knot; a fastening. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bond; an obligation, moral or legal; as, the sacred ties of friendship or of duty; the ties of allegiance. [ 1913 Webster ]

No distance breaks the tie of blood. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A knot of hair, as at the back of a wig. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An equality in numbers, as of votes, scores, etc., which prevents either party from being victorious; equality in any contest, as a race. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Arch. & Engin.) A beam or rod for holding two parts together; in railways, one of the transverse timbers which support the track and keep it in place. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) A line, usually straight, drawn across the stems of notes, or a curved line written over or under the notes, signifying that they are to be slurred, or closely united in the performance, or that two notes of the same pitch are to be sounded as one; a bind; a ligature. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. pl. Low shoes fastened with lacings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bale tie, a fastening for the ends of a hoop for a bale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make a tie; to make an equal score. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flat bar used as a tie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) A beam acting as a tie, as at the bottom of a pair of principal rafters, to prevent them from thrusting out the wall. See Illust. of Timbers, under Roof. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Chinese, square of heavenly peace. ] a large plaza in Beijing, China. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ Sp., prop., tent, awning. ] In Cuba, Mexico, etc., a booth, stall, or shop where merchandise is sold. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. One who, or that which, ties. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perhaps fr. OF. tire, F. tire; probably of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. ziarī ornament, G. zier, AS. tīr glory, tiér row, rank. But cf. also F. tirer to draw, pull; of Teutonic origin. Cf. Attire, v. t., Tire a headdress, but also Tirade. ] A row or rank, especially one of two or more rows placed one above, or higher than, another; as, a tier of seats in a theater. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tiers of a cable, the ranges of fakes, or windings, of a cable, laid one within another when coiled. [ 1913 Webster ]